The University of the Free State (UFS) has embarked on a crime awareness campaign to safeguard its students and staff members at its campuses in Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa. The university’s Department of Protection Services is driving the campaign with the chief objective of reducing the risks of crime on and around the entity’s three campuses.
The university’s protection services has teamed up with the police and community structures to combat rampant crime. Ongoing incidents of students attacked by crime syndicates prompted the UFS to spring into action crime awareness campaign.
This awareness campaign has even extended to the students’ off-campus accommodation.
According to Jacobus van Jaarsveld, deputy director of the university’s Threat Detection, Investigations, Compliance and Liaison in Protection Services division, the vulnerability of students and staff make them targets of perpetrators.
In Bloemfontein, students’ off-campus residences in the Brandwag and Universitas areas remain a hotspot for crime, at the expense of several students who prefer off-campus accommodation because of its conveniently close proximity to campus.
Common crimes in these areas include robberies and break-ins. Syndicates are known to rob students of their essentials such as cell phones and laptops, as well as clothes.
To heighten the efficiency of the campaign, the university’s protection services has teamed up with the Brandwag Sector Community Policing Forum (CPF) and the local police.
“The safety awareness runs from 19:00 to 21:00, which is the peak period for crime incidences in the neighbourhood. Continuous awareness to enhance the students’ safety in the Brandwag area highlights the commitment of the UFS, police, and the community through the CPF structure towards student safety. Students and staff are the most valuable assets of the UFS,” said Van Jaarsveld.
He stressed that the protection services has various initiatives and a dedicated team that ensures the physical safety of all who study and work at the institution.
“The safety, health, and well-being of the university community remains the university’s priority. Off-campus safety and security are at the top of the list, hence protection services, in collaboration with external stakeholders, remains steadfast in its attempts to create a safe environment. Throughout the year, patrols and awareness initiatives will continue, expanding to the South and Qwaqwa campuses,” said Van Jaarsveld.
Evidence of the students’ vulnerability is marked with ongoing attacks at off-campus residences. Last year, on 19 November, two students – one enrolled at the UFS and the other at the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State – were robbed at gunpoint in Universitas. The male student, Siyawandisa Mpho Ruda (23), was shot dead while his 20-year-old female companion, a UFS student, escaped. They were attacked on the corner of John Knox Street and Calvyn Crescent.
